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Cybersecurity guide

What Are Passkeys?

Passkeys let people sign in with a device, fingerprint, face, or PIN instead of typing a password that can be phished.

Passkeys replace typed passwords with a cryptographic credential stored on a trusted device or password manager. People sign in using a fingerprint, face, or device PIN, and the secret itself is not sent to the website.

Why passkeys resist phishing

A passkey is tied to the legitimate website. A convincing fake login page cannot capture a reusable password because there is no shared secret for the user to type or reveal.

What the user experiences

Signing in usually looks like unlocking a phone or computer. Depending on the platform, passkeys can synchronize securely across a person’s devices or be stored on a hardware security key.

Adopt them thoughtfully

Start with important services that support passkeys, maintain secure recovery methods, and document offboarding. During the transition, keep strong MFA and password-management practices in place for systems that still require passwords.

Found this useful?

Passkeys make strong authentication easier for users while removing the phishable password from the sign-in flow.

Put this guide into practice

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